Lacey, WA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Section 16.65.030 governs child day care centers in the City of Lacey. Under § 16.65.010(D) a center provides regularly scheduled care for thirteen or more children, ages one month through twelve years, for periods of less than twenty-four hours. The center must hold a Washington State license and register with the city.

Where the center sits decides the permit. In any residentially zoned district, the light industrial district, the light industrial/commercial district, or the Lacey Historic Neighborhood, a conditional use permit under Chapter 11.09 LMC is required. In any other district the center is allowed in the manner that district specifies. The hearings examiner reviews conditional use permits under LMC 11.09.020 and approves, or approves with conditions, only on findings that include no substantial or undue adverse effects on adjacent properties, adequate parking, evaluated and mitigated noise, light, and glare impacts, and adequate public facilities including streets, fire protection, and utilities (LMC 11.09.040). An approval is valid for twenty-four months under LMC 11.09.090, and the city council can revoke, suspend, or modify it for continuing noncompliance under LMC 11.09.100.

Every center, with or without a permit, must comply with the building, fire safety, traffic safety, health code, business licensing, setback, screening, landscaping, parking, signage, lot size, building size, and lot coverage requirements of the code. A center located in a private family residence is allowed only where the portion of the residence the children can reach is separate from the family's usual living quarters, or is used exclusively for the children during the hours the center operates.

For building safety, LMC 5.12.010(D) bars approval of a business registration for any business to occupy space in a building requiring a certificate of occupancy under Chapter 14.03 LMC until that certificate has been issued. The same section sends the application to the building official, the planner, and the fire marshal for review, with notice of results within ten working days.